Please PAUSE the "How to Draw a Frog" video after each step to draw at your own pace.





For the first few steps, don't press down too hard with your pencil. Use light, smooth strokes to begin.

Step 1: Draw a circle as a guide for the frog's body. The circle doesn't have to be perfect. It's just a guide.

Step 2: Draw a smaller circle on the upper right side as a guide for the frog's head. This circle should be about half the size of the original. Don't place it too far away or the frog will end up with a long neck.

Step 3: Inside the circle, draw two intersecting lines. These lines will help you place the frog's facial features later.

Step 4: Draw an arc on the right side of the head as a guide for the frog's mouth.

Step 5: Draw a few lines to complete the guide for the body. Draw two lines that connect the frog's head and body to form the front part. Add an arc on the lower left side for the rear.

---

Step 6: Draw a couple of angled lines under the frog's body as guides for the limbs. The line on the right starts on the right side of the main circle and angles down and to the right. The line on the left starts inside the arc and zigzags toward the bottom. The final shape is similar to the letter Z.

That's it for the initial sketch! From this point on, press harder with your pencil to get a more defined sketch.

Step 7: Draw the frog's eye using the lines as guides for placement. The eye is basically a circle on the top part of the frog's head. Sketch it lightly first to get the shape right. Inside the eyeball, draw a shape similar to a football for the pupil. Add a small oval inside the pupil to represent glare. Shade in the pupil except for the glare. Add a few squiggly lines on the top and bottom of the pupil as detail for the iris. Draw the structure and skin surrounding the eyeball. Draw a curved line under the eyeball and another longer one over the eyeball. Draw an even longer curved line to the right of the eye as the structure of the eye on the other side.

Step 8: Use the arc on the right side as a guide to draw the frog's mouth. Darken the top part of the arc and extend the line toward the inside of the head under the eye to form the mouth. Darken the bottom of the arc and extend that line too to create the jaw. Draw a smaller line for the frog's neck.

Step 9: Draw the details inside the head by using the lines as guides for placement. Draw a tiny circle on the top part of the mouth for the nostril. Add a circle with lines around it on the lower left side of the frog's eye for the skin that covers the ear.

---

Step 10: Use the line on the right as a guide to draw the front limb. Lightly sketch the shape of the frog's first limb as you follow the path of the line. When you get the structure of the front limb right, darken the lines. Draw the frog's long digits as a series of lines in the front part of the limb. Bend the digits in a couple of sections to indicate where the joints are. The webbing in between the digits isn't visible because of the position of the digits. Draw the visible portion of the limb on the other side using the first one as a guide. Sketch the lines lightly, then darken them once you get the structure right. Draw the visible toes at the end.

Step 11: Use the zigzag line on the left as a guide to draw the frog's hind leg. Remember to sketch the structure lightly at first as you follow the path of the guide line. Darken the lines when you get the structure right. The top folded part of the leg rests on top of the bottom part. Add a few curves to the lines along the way for the muscle structure. The joint on the left sticks out beyond the frog's body. The digits on the hind foot are longer than the ones in the front, so draw them using long lines. The leg on the other side is not visible because it's hiding behind the frog's body.

Step 12: Use the remaining lines as guides to draw the rest of the frog's body. Add a few bumps to the lines along the way for a more organic feel.

Step 13 (optional): For a cleaner look, erase as much as you can of the initial guide lines. Don't worry about erasing all of the guides. It's okay to leave some behind. Also re-draw any final sketch lines that you may have accidentally erased.

Final Step (optional): Add some shading to your frog drawing to give it more dimension and volume. Pick the direction of the light source when shading so that the shadows are consistent with the light source. Vary the pressure on your pencil to get different degrees of tonal value.

Draw a cast shadow underneath. This helps ground the frog so it doesn't appear to be floating.

You can add more value throughout your drawing for extra detail. The markings on frogs' skins vary between species from stripes to spots. You can add whatever marking you prefer to your frog drawing. For an American Green Tree Frog like this one, add a single value throughout the body except for a white line in the middle. Try to add the value smoothly for a sleek feel instead of a rough texture. You can leave certain portions throughout the body unshaded for a shiny wet look. If you have a pet frog, try to duplicate its pattern on your drawing. It's also a good idea to use reference for a more accurate drawing. Don't forget to pause the "How to Draw a Frog" video to draw at your own pace.

Thanks for watching! Subscribe to the How2DrawAnimals YouTube Channel for a new tutorial every Tuesday.

To learn how to draw popular cartoon characters, visit EasyDrawingTutorials.com.